Integral assembly of microcentrifuge strip tubes and strip caps

Abstract

Presented is an integral assembly (2) of hollow tubes and seal caps (4) therefor arranged in an elongated aligned and integral assembly in which multiple tubes (1) each symmetrical about a longitudinal axis (3) and having a closed (32) end and an open end (6) are formed in side-by-side spaced relationship in a linear series in which adjacent tubes are integrally interconnected by a tether (36) to form an elongated strip (2). One end of the strip (2) of open-ended tubes is integrally connected to an elongated seal cap strip (43) that forms an integral extension of the tube strip and which includes a linear series of integral, spaced seal caps (42) each symmetrical about an axis (44) parallel to the axes of the tubes and corresponding in spacing and in number to the tubes. The tube (1) on one end of the tube strip (2) is integrally connected to its corresponding seal cap (42) on the seal cap strip (43). A hinge (41) is provided integrally interposed between the tube strip and the cap strip so that when the cap strip is manipulated into superimposed relationship over the tube strip, the axes of the seal caps coincide with the axes of the tubes and the seal caps of the cap strip may be pressed to sealingly engage the open ends of the tubes of the tube strip.

I claim: 
     
       1. A unitary assembly of microcentrifuge tubes and caps formed from a single piece of synthetic resinous material, said assembly comprising: a) a plurality of spaced, microcentrifuge reagent tubes arranged in an elongated aligned series, each tube having an open end, a closed end and an external support collar positioned between said open end and said closed end;   b) a plurality of tether means for interconnecting said plurality of microcentrifuge reagent tubes, each of said tether means extending from adjacent ones of said tubes at a position on each of said tubes between said open end and said collar;   c) a plurality of seal caps arranged in an elongated aligned series;   d) a plurality of webs for interconnecting said plurality of seal caps, each of said webs interconnecting adjacent ones of said seal caps in a spaced manner so that each of said seal caps can be engaged with an open end of a corresponding one of said reagent tubes; and   e) a flexible hinge strap connecting an end one of said reagent tubes to an end one of said seal caps, said hinge strap including a live hinge portion for enabling said plurality of seal caps to pivot into engagement with the open ends of corresponding ones of said reagent tubes, wherein said each of said microcentrifuge reagent tubes has a length of less than one inch.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said tether means extends from adjacent ones of said tubes at a position on each of said tubes adjacent a top edge of said collar. 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the open ends of said reagent tubes lie in a common plane. 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of tether means interconnecting said plurality of reagent tubes are coincident in a common plane. 
     
     
       5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said each of said webs interconnecting adjacent ones of said seal caps in a spaced manner is provided with an aperture therein extending transverse to the web and defining flexible peripheral strap members disposed between adjacent seal caps, whereby said webs between adjacent seal caps accommodate flexure between said seal caps to facilitate sealing engagement and disengagement of said series of seal caps with said series of reagent tubes. 
     
     
       6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said seal caps is provided with an open and a closed end, and said webs interconnecting said elongated aligned series of seal caps are connected to said seal caps in a plane coincident with the plane of said hinge strap, whereby in the extended aligned position of said integrally connected seal caps said open ends of said seal caps lie in a plane parallel and spaced from a plane including the open ends of said reagent tubes, while the closed ends of said seal caps lie in a plane parallel and spaced on the opposite side of the plane including the open ends of said reagent tubes. 
     
     
       7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced, microcentrifuge reagent tubes are each symmetrical about a central axis and arranged in an uninterrupted strip in which the axes of the plurality of tubes are parallel to one another, equally spaced apart, and coincident with a common plane, and each seal cap is symmetrical about a central axis parallel to the axes of the remaining seal caps and includes a closed end, an open end, and a tapered skirt portion adapted to selectively sealingly engage the open end of an associated reagent tube. 
     
     
       8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said hinge strap is approximately twice the length of the spacing between the axes of two adjacent reagent tubes, and includes opposite long edges that are substantially tangent to the periphery of said end one of said seal caps to which the hinge strap is connected. 
     
     
       9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the outside diameter of said open end of said tapered skirt portion on each seal cap is greater than the inner diameter of the open end of the reagent tube, whereby when a seal skirt portion is pressed into the open end of an associated reagent tube, the differential in diameters effects elastic compression of said skirt portion to seal the open end of the associated reagent tube. 
     
     
       10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said reagent tubes is elongated in the direction of its central axis and includes a cylindrical body portion adjacent its open end, a circular flange disposed integrally about said cylindrical body portion and defining the open end of said reagent tube, said external support collar being disposed integrally about said cylindrical body portion and spaced axially from said circular flange, and a cylindrical seal surface within the open end of each reagent tube concentrically disposed in relation to said circular flange and adapted to elastically sealingly compress an associated seal cap when said seal cap is pressed into the open end of the associated reagent tube. 
     
     
       11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said flexible hinge strap integrally connects the circular flange on said end one of said reagent tubes to an end one of said seal caps medianly between opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
       12. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein each said reagent tube includes a first conical wall portion connected at one end to said support collar and extending toward the closed end of the reagent tube, and a second conical wall portion integral with said first conical wall portion at one end and closed at its opposite end. 
     
     
       13. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said cylindrical body portion of each reagent tube includes a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, said cylindrical seal surface is spaced radially inwardly and concentrically with respect to said cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and a beveled surface is provided intercepting said cylindrical seal surface and the open end of the reagent tube, whereby said skirt portion of an associated seal cap is cammed into elastic compression when sealingly inserted into said cylindrical seal surface.